Searchers recover body of 34-year-old kayaker at Willow Creek Reservoir
By Griffin Beach on Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HEPPNER – The body of a kayaker has been recovered from Willow Creek Reservoir in Heppner, and the deceased has been identified as Chance Cory Day, 34, of Hermiston.
MCSO announced that searchers recovered Day’s body at 5 p.m. Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call Sunday evening reporting that Day went underwater at the reservoir and did not resurface.
Morrow County Sheriff’s thanked the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol Unit dive team for responding and using its expertise in a challenging situation. The agency also thanked the Heppner Fire Department, Boardman Fire Rescue District, Morrow County Emergency Manager Steve Freeland, Ron Carlson, and Luke Young for their assistance.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family and thank them for their patience during this extremely difficult time,” Morrow County Sheriff John Bowles said.
This article has been updated with Day’s hometown.
